Senior Design Manager (Mechanical)

KBS Maritime Ltd; England; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading maritime joint venture in Portsmouth is seeking a Senior Design Manager (Mechanical) to develop strategic requirements into detailed designs. Ideal candidates will have over 10 years of experience and strong communication skills. The position offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits, including professional development opportunities and a supportive work environment.

Benefits

Competitive salary

25 days holiday plus bank holidays

Enhanced pension scheme

Life assurance

Internal benefits program

Cycle to work scheme

Group income protection

Flexible parental benefits

Career development opportunities

Occupational Health & Wellbeing Service

50% off entry into the Historic Dockyard

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in a relevant industry.
• Experience with saltwater system projects is welcome.
• Familiar with the entire project lifecycle.

Responsibilities

• Develop client's strategic requirements into a statement of requirements.
• Manage design process from inception through development stages.
• Ensure design meets strategic and environmental objectives.

Skills

Strong communication skills

Negotiation skills

Mentoring and support capabilities

Education

Degree in Engineering

Job description

Overview

Job Title: Senior Design Manager (Mechanical)
Location: Portsmouth (HM Naval Base)
Service Area: Asset Management
Hours of Work: 37 hours per week

Responsibilities

• Reporting to the Principal Mechanical Design Manager, responsible for developing the client's strategic requirement into a detailed statement of requirements addressing performance, dependencies, risks, test and commissioning, applicable standards/regulations, and acceptance criteria.
• Working collaboratively with the Project Manager, other engineering disciplines, Client, and end user and maintainer stakeholders, managing the design process from inception, through the development of the RIBA stages and into service.
• Consider the feasibility and practicality of designs in practice, ensuring the design meets the client's strategic and environmental objectives, and complies with all relevant legislation and regulations.

Qualifications / You'll Have

• Senior mechanical engineer with a degree in Engineering and 10+ years of experience in a relevant industry.
• The ideal candidate should either hold or be working towards chartership.
• Background should include exposure to a wide range of medium to large mechanical projects.
• Familiar with the entire project lifecycle from inception to in service.
• Experience delivering saltwater system projects such as replacement or refurbishment of large pumps, penstocks and dock infrastructure is welcome.

About You

In this role, you will need strong communication and negotiation skills to monitor and influence various aspects of projects. Your ability to build relationships and collaborate with others will contribute to the overall quality and success of each project. You will be confident at conveying complex concepts in a clear manner to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. You will be able to mentor and support other less experienced engineers.

You'll Get

• A competitive salary
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Enhanced pension scheme
• Life assurance
• Access to our internal benefits and discounts programme for all colleagues
• Cycle to work scheme
• Group income protection
• Flexible parental benefits (if applicable)
• Access to our Internal employee assistance network, giving you the opportunity to reach the heights of success within your new position.
• Continued professional career development
• Kudos reward opportunities (internal achievements scheme)
• Occupational Health & Wellbeing Service
• 50% off entry into the Historic Dockyard.

Application process

Applications are urged to apply prior to the advertising closing date of Friday 14th November 2025 with a view of interviews scheduled to commence week commencing Monday 17th November 2025. For all queries, please contact the Recruitment Team in the first instance who will advise accordingly.

About Us

At KBS Maritime, we're not just another company - we're an exciting and dynamic joint venture between industry leaders BAE Systems and KBR. Our team is dedicated to providing Asset Management, Infrastructure Management, Energy Solutions and Alongside Services at His Majesty's Naval Base Portsmouth (HMNBP), the beating heart of the Royal Navy.

With almost two-thirds of the Royal Navy's surface ships stationed at HMNBP, working with KBS Maritime means being at the forefront of innovation and progress. We operate in a unique and fascinating environment; with a mix of historic dockyard and cutting-edge infrastructure that's unlike any other.

By delivering state of the art solutions to the Royal Navy, KBS Maritime offers the chance to work on projects that make a real difference to the safety, security, and sustainability of the UK's National Defence and Security. But it's not just about the work - at KBS Maritime, we believe in the value of our people. We have the ethos of a small business, which means we value and empower our team members to succeed